"How is it you think about all these things, Merriwell?" asked Rattles, looking at Frank wonderingly.
"Why? It's natural, it seems to me, for any one to think about them."
"Some fellows don't seem to think about anything."
"I know. It seems to hurt them to think. Chickering's set, for example. Never mind then. As I was saying, the fact has become recognized that in order to properly succeed in the battle of life a man should not neglect the education of his body. There was a time when college were sneered at and joked about. The comic papers were full of jokes about the chap who went to college to learn football. The faculty of the college looked on athletics askance. Things have changed in later years. Now athletics are encouraged, and they are considered a part of the college life, which is a very good thing. "
"Jove! Merriwell, you're making me feel guilty."
"Am I?"
"Sure."
"Why?"
"Well, I know I have not been taking regular exercise of late.
"Is that right?"
"Yes."
"Well, you've got to brace up, old man. Now get your chest out and fill your lungs. Draw in a deep breath. Fill the upper part of your lungs, as well as the lower. Don't you know you can fill part of your lungs and let a part remain idle? Expand the upper part of your chest."
"Whew!" breathed Harry. "If I have to expand any more than that I'll bust."
Frank laughed.
"Now this is only once. Keep it up as we walk along. Draw in good, deep breaths, and let them out slowly-slowly. That's the way. To finish with, take a long breath and hold it. See how many you can count while you field it. That will be the test to show you whether you are progressing. Little by little, you will be able to count more and more."
"I believe I'll try it every day. Seems to warm a fellow up all over."
"Sets your blood to running warm. Quickens the action of your heart without artificial stimulants. A fellow drinks whiskey and it makes his heart beat swiftly, and thus it seems to warm him up. Let him exercise properly, breathing deeply, and he accomplishes the same result, but without the false exhilaration of intoxication."
"Is this to be a temperance lecture?"
"Oh, no. I'm exercising my mouth now."
Frank laughed, and Harry exclaimed;
"Badger's beginning to exercise his again."
"Is he?"
"Yes."
"How do you know?"
"Heard him."
"When?"
"This morning."
"Where?"
"Fence."
"What was he doing?"
"Bragging, same as usual.
Frank smiled in a singular manner.
"Hodge will be pleased," he said.
"What?" asked Harry, surprised. "Why should he be pleased?"
"Never mind. Something will happen if Badger has started to talk. Where are you going, Rattles?"
"To the laundry."
They were out in town now, and walking along one of the principal streets. Suddenly they came face to face with two young ladies, whom they recognized. Frank lifted his hat, and so did Harry. Alas for the latter!
As Rattleton lifted his hat, there was a shower of soiled linen. Collars and cuffs rained down about him and fell on the sidewalk, to his horror and dismay.
Frank realized what had happened, and he repressed his laughter with difficulty. The girls were forced to smile, for Rattleton was ludicrous in his horror and dismay. A small boy pointed him out and shouted to another:
"Come here, Chimmy, an' see der duck dat's sheddin his lawndree! Hi! hi!"
Harry made a scramble to gather up the stuff which had fallen on the sidewalk. Some of the collars actually seemed to wiggle in an effort to avoid him. Some of the cuffs rolled into the gutter.
"Last time I'll ever harry my linen in my cat-I mean carry my linen in my hat!" spluttered Rattles, scrambling after the elusive stuff.
When he had gathered it all up, he crammed it into his hat again, yanked his hat onto his head with both hands and started off on a run, deserting Merriwell, for he could not bear to face the smiling girls.
CHAPTER X.
THE OPPORTUNITY COMES.
The girls were Stella Stanley and Winnie Lee. Frank had paused to speak with them.
"Oh, dear!" laughed Winnie, looking after Rattles' fleeing figure. "The poor fellow! But what a funny place for him to carry his soiled linen in! Why do you suppose he did it?"
"Got hard up for collars and cuffs," explained Merry, "and decided to hustle them out to a laundry. Didn't want to be seen carrying a bundle, so he tucked them into his hat. Forgot he had the stuff there, and you witnessed the result. He'll not get over it for a week. Poor Rattles!"
"I wanted to see you," said Winnie.
"Did you? Am I such a sight, then?"
"No; don't flatter yourself. It's not about you. It's about Mr. Badger. "
"Oh, dear me!" Frank laughed. "How disappointed I am!"
"Oh, yes! And you have two girls who are all gone on you."
"So many?"
"You know."
"Those are not all," laughed Stella Stanley. "We had to guard him the season he was on the road to keep the girls from stealing him. They all wanted him."
"Now you are putting it on thick!" said Frank. "I protest! But what about Mr. Badger?"
"He-he called last night," said Winnie.
"Did he?" smiled Frank. "Is it a quarrel, or a wedding?"
"Neither. But he told me all about the talk he had with you in your room and about Mr. Hodge coming in."
"Ah! Told his side of it, I presume."
"I believe he told me the truth."
"Oh, yes, of course. Haven't a doubt of it. Go on."
"He said that he was more than willing to let bygones be bygones as far as you are concerned, but that others will not let him alone. He says Hodge has sneered about him, and other men have insulted him to his face."
"My dear Miss Lee, let me tell you that Buck Badger is easily insulted. He is worse than Jack Diamond, if possible. Sometimes he seems waiting for somebody to say something that he can construe as an insult."
"Oh, but I'm sure he is not that way now!" exclaimed Winnie, in distress, "All he wants is to be let alone. If the fellows will let him alone, he will not bother them."
"Without doubt he thinks so when he is with you, but there are other times, you know."
"But won't you help and encourage him-please! He needs help. He must have it. You have helped so many fellows."
Frank shook his head soberly.